> I want to issue a "clearscreen" in or after a logout command so that the > next login is on a blank screen. How can I accomplish this? I used to use an alias: alias bye = "clear && exit" Another viable solution, if you use the bash shell, I believe you can add the word "clear" on one line of your ~/bash_logout, and the screen will be cleared for you. You can also install the "mingetty" program, then do the following: edit /etc/inittab, and change the lines that look like 1:2345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty1 2:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty2 ... to look as follows: 1:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty1 2:23:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty2 ... (or just comment the originals out, and add the new lines). Regardless, mingetty clears the screen automatically on logout, by default. Some would argue that mingetty is also faster.